Designed an community of 450,000 residents and visitors, Lusail City’s water, energy, communications and transport networks are planned to automatically adapt to continually changing conditions, making Lusail the most sustainable city in the region. Continuing these ecological considerations, the formal composition of ZHA’s design has been inspired by the structure of the desert hyacinth; a flowering plant native to the landscapes and coastlines of the Arabian Gulf. The nine-pointed form of the building’s podium surrounds a central core defined by the interwoven geometries of the hyacinth. A filigreed mashrabiya façade envelops the building to reduce solar gain. Source and images, Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.